Motor News

Tesla is recalling 362,758 vehicles over issues with the Full Self-Driving software that allows vehicles to exceed speed limits or drive through intersections in an unlawful or unpredictable manner, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).The issues affect a range of years throughout the full lineup, including certain Model 3, Model X, Model Y and Model S units manufactured between 2016 and 2023. Tesla said it will issue a free over-the-air (OTA) software update for the affected vehicles and will send notification letters to owners by April 15, 2023. Tesla is recalling hundreds of thousands of vehicles over safety issues regarding the company’s Full Self-Driving (FSD Beta) automated-driving software. The recall affects a total of 362,758 vehicles including certain Model 3, Model X, Model Y, and Model S EVs manufactured between 2016 and 2023.Related StoriesFilings with NHTSA show that vehicles using the FSD Beta may act in an unsafe manner, with particular concern over intersections. Vehicles may potentially travel directly through an intersection while in a turn-only lane, enter a stop-sign-controlled intersection without coming to a complete stop, or proceed into an intersection during a steady yellow traffic signal without due caution, according to NHTSA documents. The software may also fail to recognize changes in posted speed limits, and fail to slow the vehicle down when entering a slower-traffic area. Tesla will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update for the problem free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by April 15, 2023. Owners may contact Tesla customer service at 877–798–3752. Tesla’s number for this recall is SB-23-00-001.NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened a preliminary investigation into the performance of FSD. The investigation was motivated by an accumulation of crashes in which Tesla vehicles, operating with Autopilot engaged, struck stationary in-road or roadside first responder vehicles tending to pre-existing collision scenes, according to NHTSA. The original preliminary evaluation was later upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA) to extend the existing crash analysis, evaluate additional data sets, perform vehicle evaluations, and to explore the degree to which Autopilot and associated Tesla systems may exacerbate human factors or behavioral safety risks by undermining the effectiveness of the driver’s supervision. More

A new generation of the BMW M5 is on the way, codenamed G90.It will share its plug-in-hybrid powertrain with the BMW XM SUV.A wagon version of the M5 is under consideration for America.A new generation of the BMW 5-series is on the way and wears the codename G60. But the most exciting news will come in July 2024, when the M division will launch the new M5. Dubbed G90, the top-of-the-line model will only be available in Label Red high-performance guise rated at 735 horsepower and 735 pound-feet of torque. You guessed it—the next M5 shares its plug-in-hybrid drivetrain with the polarizing XM SUV out this summer. While it will be offered as a sedan once again, we hear that the M5 Touring station wagon (G99), due to go into production in late 2024, is at long last considered for exportation to North America.The new M5 should sport an electric range of close to 60 miles and a maximum speed of 87 mph in EV mode, sources say. On the debit side, it carries a weight penalty of over 440 pounds compared to the outgoing M5. While the extra grunt is said to cut the 60 mph acceleration time by a few ticks (we already managed a blisteringly quick 2.8 seconds in the current M5 Competition), it remains to be seen which effect—if any—the extra body fat has on the best-in-class handling.BMW M5 sedanIllustration by Christian Schulte|Car and DriverAccording to those in the know, the next M5 remains loyal to the classic steel suspension, but introduces rear-wheel steering, bigger brakes, and optional 22-inch wheels. Drivers can choose between three energy regeneration stages, two calibrations for the steering and brakes, and five different drive modes including eControl, which prioritizes the electric motor. The 644-hp unit fitted to the “base” XM will not be offered in the new M5. If anything, there might be an even brawnier Label Black high-flyer which would mate the 627-hp V-8 of the defunct M5 CS to a bigger electric motor.More on the M5Electric BMW i5 M Could Have More Than 1000 HPWhat about an i5 M, you ask? The electric i5 range will likely compromise these three models: i5 eDrive40 and xDrive40 (340 hp), i5 M50 xDrive (544 hp) and i5 M70 xDrive (650 hp). The M70 is not only the most potent version, it can allegedly also be charged faster, is equipped with special high-performance batteries, gets active steering, bigger 21-inch wheels and suspension tweaks, plus the usual M livery inside and out, but is still not yet a fully fledged hardcore M car.This role belongs to the i5 M, which won’t bow before 2026 as a widebody four-door, four-motor 1136-hp crackerjack due to follow hot on the heels of the 1000-hp all-electric M4 replacement. Codenamed Katharina, the new high-performance electric drivetrain boasts ultrafast wheel-by-wheel torque vectoring, multi-stage cooling, a supplementary brake-by-motor energy regeneration system and new dynamic features like piloted drifting and the ability to perform tank turns. Key to the new talent level is a complex advanced control unit known internally as “Hand of God.”Future BMW EVsWhether this DNA will eventually also spawn the rumored new BMW M supercar is still open to debate—talks with McLaren on the subject have reportedly reached a cul-de-sac. More

Tesla was the bestselling luxury brand in the U.S. last year, according to new data reported by Automotive News.Based on Experian data on new vehicle registrations, 484,351 Teslas were tagged in 2022 (up 41 percent from the year before).Tesla beat out BMW—the previous luxury sales champ—by a massive margin of more than 156K registrations.BMW no longer holds the title of the bestselling luxury brand in America. The crown now belongs to Tesla for the first time. The company achieved this milestone after a big surge of new vehicle registrations in 2022, based on new data reported by Automotive News. While it’s fair to argue whether Tesla qualifies as a true luxury automaker alongside the likes of more prominent brands such as Audi and Lexus, the price range of the company’s lineup appears to justify that categorization more than anything else. Despite Tesla’s quality-control woes and the Model 3 and Model Y’s—er—austere interiors, the Model S and Model X each can get into six-figure territory.Other Tesla NewsTesla Takes the Title As most people know, Tesla only makes electric vehicles. Still, the 484,351 new models registered last year were more than all other luxury automakers, including their electric and gas-powered offerings. That amount represents a 41-percent jump in Tesla registrations compared with 2021. Before the amount of Tesla registrations exploded last year, BMW was the reigning luxury sales champ. However, not only did Tesla have 156,422 more registrations in 2022, but BMW also saw its numbers drop by 5.3 percent from the year prior to 327,929. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz finished third with 269,511 new registrations last year, but AN reports that amount barely changed versus 2021. The data on new vehicle registrations that identifies the bestselling luxury automaker comes from Experian. It’s used to because Tesla notoriously doesn’t separate U.S. sales from the amount the company sells globally. That’s why new registrations are considered the best way to compare the market. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Cadillac’s vice president confirmed that three new electric Cadillacs will debut in 2023, as reported by the Detroit Free Press.A Cadillac representative told Car and Driver that the EVs will all arrive for the 2024 model year.We expect the trio to include a crossover slotting in below the $58,590 Lyriq and electric versions of the Escalade, in both regular and extended wheelbase variants.After a slow start in 2022, with just 122 units delivered, production of the Cadillac Lyriq is finally ramping up, with the brand announcing that 1000 units will have shipped by the end of the week. Now Cadillac has revealed that three more electric vehicles will join the Lyriq in the near future, with vice president Rory Harvey confirming on Wednesday that three new Cadillac EVs will be revealed in 2023, as reported by the Detroit Free Press. Harvey wouldn’t divulge what shape these EVs might take, but said he expects Cadillac to start producing them next year. A Cadillac representative confirmed to Car and Driver that all three EVs will arrive for the 2024 model year and will be sold globally. More on Cadillac EVsAlthough Harvey wouldn’t reveal any other details, we can make some educated guesses as to what the EVs might be. One of the new Cadillacs will likely be a compact crossover that slots below the Lyriq. While the Lyriq starts at $58,590, we believe this new EV could start under $50,000 and compete with the Audi Q4 e-tron. Based on a series of trademarks filed in 2021, possible names for the crossover include Optiq, Ascendiq, Lumistiq, or Vistiq.The other two EVs coming for 2024 are expected to be electric versions of the Escalade, with both regular and extended wheelbase variants. General Motors has previously confirmed that it is working on battery-powered full-size SUVs, and the company also trademarked the names Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL in 2021. Late last year, we also reported that the Escalade nameplate may expand into its own subbrand, and the new Escalade EVs could represent the first step in that plan. Whatever shape the three upcoming electric Cadillacs take, we won’t have to wait too long to find out.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

Jeep is adding an Upland trim to the 2023 Renegade lineup, and it starts at $32,185.The Upland has many styling elements from the Trailhawk without the off-road hardware.Solar Yellow is a new color option and costs $495.The Jeep Renegade is showing its age, having debuted for the 2015 model year, but Jeep is trying to keep things fresh by adding new trims and colors. The 2023 Renegade is now available with an Upland trim that’s effectively an off-road appearance package, and Solar Yellow is new to the color palette and costs an extra $495.JeepThe Upland costs $32,185 and fits in the middle of the 2023 Renegade lineup. The black hood graphic, different front and rear fascias, and 17-inch wheels make it look like the Trailhawk off-road trim, though it lacks that model’s red tow hooks. And although the Upland has all-terrain tires, it doesn’t have the Trailhawk’s upgraded four-wheel-drive system with a low range, either.JeepAll 2023 Renegades have a 177-hp turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-four engine and a nine-speed automatic. All-wheel drive is standard, with the lower models having Jeep’s Active Drive system and the Trailhawk ($33,540) upgrading to Active Drive Low, which also adds a low range Rock option to the Selec-Terrain drive-mode system.More Small JeepsWe haven’t heard anything about a replacement for the Renegade arriving anytime soon, so it may stick around for a couple more years. In Europe, Jeep has started selling the similarly sized Avenger, which is an EV, so it’s possible that model could eventually come to the U.S. to slot into the subcompact space.This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

The 2024 Buick Encore GX gets updated with a fresh face and the brand’s new logo.Every model now has two large displays that share a single glass panel on the dash. Buick also adds the classy Avenir to the Encore GX lineup and turns the popular ST package into a stand-alone trim.The face of Buick is changing, starting with its most popular model, the Encore GX. For 2024, the subcompact SUV receives myriad improvements, not the least of which is a refreshed front end featuring the brand’s new-look logo.Face FirstThe ’24 Encore GX is the first U.S. model to wear Buick’s redesigned tri-shield emblem, which originally appeared on the company’s Wildcat concept. While that eccentric electric coupe was purely a design exercise, the updated GX is the first Buick sold in America to showcase the concept’s influence.The surprise of seeing the GX’s new face was somewhat spoiled by spy photos we captured last December, but the little SUV looks just as handsome nonetheless. It certainly appears more upscale than before, with slim LED accents mounted above discreetly integrated headlights. A new trapezoidal grille sits much lower than its predecessor’s did. The changes to the rear are less obvious, but they’re there if you look hard enough.Buicks Reviewed Top to BottomST Steps UpAlong with updated styling, the Encore GX lineup is restructured. The Preferred trim remains the entry point, but the newly added Avenir now sits at the top. In between them is the Sport Touring (ST), which Buick decided to change from an appearance package to a stand-alone model due to its popularity. The trio are said to have simpler packaging too, with basically no options.The Avenir is the fanciest Encore GX. In fact, Buick went as far as giving it different HVAC controls than the other two. Other Avenir exclusives include a black-and-beige interior color scheme as well as leather seats with its name embroidered into the headrests. It comes with a heated steering wheel and power-adjustable front seats too.The Encore GX ST looks the sportiest of the bunch. For example, it has glossy black wheels and black lower molding; the Avenir has bright rims and molding that matches its body color. The ST can take its distinct appearance even further with the optional Black Roof package. Inside, it alone has a flat-bottomed steering wheel and “ST” stitched into the headrests.BuickBuickScreen TimePerhaps more noteworthy than its new looks, every Encore GX gets a redesigned dashboard with an enormous sheet of glass mounted on top. This single panel contains two large displays, with 8.0 inches devoted to the gauge cluster and 11.0 inches for the touchscreeen infotainment system. The latter includes standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Wireless charging with a larger pad than before is also offered.The 2024 Encore GX continues to offer two turbocharged three-cylinders and either front- or all-wheel drive. While both engines feature a turbo from a different supplier—Buick says it’s quieter now—the base 1.2-liter still makes 137 horsepower, and the 1.3-liter upgrade pumps out the same 155 ponies. We’re told the GX’s engine mounts have been optimized to reduce noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) levels. The SUV’s fuel-economy estimates are also expected to carry over; front-drive versions are currently rated at 30 mpg combined, and all-wheel-drive ones are rated at 27 combined.Buick says the updated Encore GX will begin production next month and go on sale this spring. The starting price for the Preferred trim is $26,895, making the base model $300 less than last year. The ST and Avenir start at $28,095 and $33,195, respectively. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More

An electrical overheating problem has led Stellantis to recall 306,165 Ram heavy-duty pickups in the U.S.Included in the recall are 2021–2023 Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups and chassis-cab trucks with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine.The automaker has asked owners not to park the vehicles indoors until the issue can be addressed.Stellantis said today that it will recall 306,165 of its Ram HD pickups and chassis-cab trucks from the 2021 through 2023 model years. The issue is an intake heater grid relay on trucks equipped with the 6.7-liter Cummins diesel engine and an older design of heater grid relay that is no longer being installed on the trucks. The automaker had previously recalled Ram HD trucks for the same problem in late 2021.Stellantis said the relays could overheat, which opens the possibility of fire. The company said there were six fires reported that could have been related to the issue. Five of these happened while the vehicles’ engines were running, while the other was with the engine off. The automaker said the risk is “minimal” but still advises owners or users of the trucks not to park them indoors.The company will start notifying customers in March. Until then, owners can check the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recalls website to see if their truck is involved in the recall.Previously in Ram HD Recalls More

• The 2024 Ferrari Purosangue will cost $398,350, excluding a yet-unspecified gas-guzzler tax.• The destination charge is $5000, an eye-watering amount sure to make Jeep jealous.• Fuel economy and vehicle classification will have a major impact on how high or low the gas-guzzler tax could be.Every Ferrari costs house money, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Maranello’s first SUV carries a price tag commensurate with its stature—and that sweet, sweet V-12.In an email to Car and Driver, Ferrari said that the 2024 Purosangue SUV will set a buyer back $398,350. This includes a massive $5000 destination charge, which is among the highest in the industry. Ferrari hasn’t said how the cars will be delivered, but for that kind of money, we’re assuming they will be ferried to owners on the wings of angels.If that price wasn’t enough to set your wallet aflame, there’s also the matter of the Purosangue’s inevitable gas-guzzler tax. Ferrari told us this tax is yet to be determined, likely because this tariff is contingent on the vehicle’s official fuel economy, which the EPA has yet to announce. FerrariGaz-guzzler calculation also hangs on how the vehicle is classified. If it’s classified as a sport utility vehicle, like the Lamborghini Urus S or the Bentley Bentayga Speed, it could be exempted from the tax altogether. However, if it ends up under the station-wagon taxonomy, like the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the gas-guzzler surcharge would apply. You know what else is considered a station wagon? The Lamborghini Urus Performante. You’re right to be confused; the feds don’t make this easy.More on the Purosangue SUVRegardless of the final cost, the Purosangue appears to be one properly potent performer. A naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V-12 engine will deliver 715 horsepower and 528 pound-feet of torque; Ferrari claims that’s enough shove to reach 62 mph in just 3.3 seconds. It doesn’t have traditional anti-roll bars, instead opting for a trick adaptive suspension that uses electric motors to control body roll by applying a force on the dampers. This content is imported from poll. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. More